This Week in Birding 41

This Week in Birding

:: Residents of Lodi, California, are concerned that proposed construction of a water tunnel will drive away Sandhill Cranes from the nearby Delta wetlands; the birds are celebrated each year at the annual Sandhill Crane Festival.

:: The latest trend in Japanese coffee houses is the “owl cafe”, where not only are the decor and menus based on a raptor theme, but also have live owls which patrons can hold and pet, raising safety and ethical concerns for the birds and the humans.

:: The city of Wausau, Wisconsin, has put a bird on it in a big way, featuring a public art project with 18 large metal bird sculptures placed in the median on a local highway. Wausau is also hosting the annual “Birds in Art” exhibition at the Woodson Art Museum now until November 10th, when the exhibit goes on tour.

:: Markham Hilton Suites Hotel has installed bird-friendly film on the windows of the hotel to help reduce bird collisions

:: Researchers say they have discovered Australia’s oldest known bird footprints, a pair of tracks left along a sandy riverbank in Australia during the Early Cretaceous Period, more than 100 million years ago.

:: David Sibley’s second edition of The Sibley Guide to Birds is due out on March 11, 2014. Pre-order now!

Sibley 2nd ed

:: Only weeks after California’s governor signed legislation mandating hunters to use non-lead ammunition, a record number of 21 endangered California condors were treated in the last month at the Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens for lead poisoning, more than half the number the zoo sees in an average year.

Great posts in birding blogs this week: 

:: From Dan at Birds CalgaryTravel Tuesday: Fall Migration in Confederation Park

:: From Josh at Ontario Birds and HerpsPhoto shoot – American Golden-plover

:: From Rob at City BirderBlue Grosbeak versus Indigo Bunting

:: From Julie at Birding is FunAutumn Birds

:: Jeremy at AZ BirdbrainTug o’ War

:: From Wally at Our Florida JournalHappiness Is A Dirt Road

:: From Nate at 10,000 BirdsLifer Ocean

:: From Nick at The BirdistScary Birding Stories!